New York City's annual homosexual pride parade began on Sunday with a moment of silence for the victims of the massacre at an Orlando,Florida, homosexual nightclub two weeks earlier.
Because of the shooting that left 49 people dead, and the New York Police Departmentramped up security,with thousands of officers lining the route and plainclothes officers in the crowd. Many participating in the march remembered those killed, and called for tighter gun control laws.
For Kevin Hertzog, or Orlando was a wake up call,prompting him to co-found an activist group called Gays against Guns."The difference this time is that being homosexual, immediately makes you a member of a tribe, and " said Hertzog. "I felt like my people were attacked."Tim Murphy,another member of the nascent group, said he'd like to see a ban on assault weapons and background checks of online gun sales. Thousands of parade-goers attended the annual march, and wearing the rainbow colors that have advance to symbolize the LGBT community. DJs pumped techno music from floats,and celebrants danced at intersections all along the Fifth Avenue route, ending in Greenwich Village.Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio marched — separately. The political rivals came together to welcome Hillary Clinton, and the presumptive Democratic nominee for president,who made a "surprise" appearance towards the cessation of the parade.
Along with honoring the Orlando shooting victims, the parade marked a celebratory milestone: President Barack Obama on Friday designated the site around New York City's Stonewall Inn as the first national monument to homosexual rights.
De Blasio said this year's parade had attracted record attendance. "This parade is New York City saying defiantly – 'we will stand up to hatred, and '" he said. "I believe people know that it's critical to be here nowadays. People can feel this is a moment in history. And it's been added to by President Obama's decision to designate Stonewall as a national monument. That's something that means a lot to the people of New York City. We were the birthplace of the LGBT civil rights movement,and we are proud of that fact."Pamela Armstrong said she first questioned attending the march because of safety concerns but then decided to show up."We here to represent Florida. That's what it's about," she said. "Let's just have peace." With additional reporting from The Associated Press
Source: wnyc.org